Public health experts weigh in on UK variant, now the dominant strain in US
The CDC says the UK variant has become the most dominant COVID strain in the United States. That strain, B.1.1.7, is also widely..
Next at 10 --- covid-9 variants that have been on the radar for health leaders for months..*now dominating.
Tonight--- the risk becomes even more real with cases confirmed --- right here in our backyard.
44 news reporter valerie lyons joins us live now --- with what we've just learned about the variants making the rounds.
Multiple covid-19 variants have been found in the tri-state -- with hopkins county -- the latest to report a case -- and senator mitch mcconnell visited the community today -- stressing -- the best way to stop the spread of these variants -- is reaching herd immunity as quickly as possible -- "the uk variant is a cause for concern."
Hopkins county health officials sounding the alarm -- confirming the first case of the highly contagious covid-19 strain in the community -- "the longer the variants are in the community the more likely that they could keep replicating and the vaccine be not as effective."
This comes as the c-d-c reports -- the uk variant of the coronavirus is now the most dominant strain in the united states -- "based on our most recent estimates from cdc's surveillance, the b.1.1.7 variant is now the most common lineage circulating in the united states."
C-d-c director rochelle walensky saying -- the percentage of uk variant cases -- more than doubled from late february to mid- march -- jumping from 11 to 27 percent -- and the bluegrass -- seeing numbers rise by the day -- "83 identified cases in kentucky.
It is fueling in some places.
A pretty significant increase in cases."
25 counties -- reporting at least one case of the uk variant -- and as numbers increase -- the need to reach herd immunity -- becoming even more pressing -- senator mitch mcconnell stopping at baptist health madisonville wednesday-- echoing community health officials' push for more vaccinations --?it looks to me like wee on pace to beat the goal before the summer, and the goal is 75%, heard immunity by the summer hopefully, and then back to normal?
And current data shows -- vaccines work against these variants -- so as they continue to spread -- tri- state leaders say -- it's vital to sign up and get your shot -- beshear: "we've gotta defeat covid-19.
It's more dangerous with the variant.
You need to protect yourself."
Experts say though current vaccines are effective against known strains -- because the uk variant is more contagious and possibly -- more deadly -- than the original covid-19 strain -- it could explain why cases continue to rise despite the rate of vaccinations --
The CDC says the UK variant has become the most dominant COVID strain in the United States. That strain, B.1.1.7, is also widely..